The Blue Collar Appeal of Hard Times In Hard Times, Charles Dickens gives us a close look at what appears to be the ivory tower of the bourgeoisie of his times, yet these middle-class characters are seen from a singular perspective, the perspective of those who are at the base of the social and economic system. Although Dickens' characters tend to be well developed and presented with a thoroughly human quality, the stereotypical figure of the arrogant and demanding Bounderby fails to accurately capture the motivations and attitudes of the typical successful businessman of the time and is a indication of the author's political motivations. . Hard Times, instead of presenting a historically accurate picture of the extraordinary changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution, is a one-sided attack on the utilitarian value system of the mid-19th century, based on the emotional appeals of blue-collar workers for worker sympathy that are not uncommon in the today's business environment. Josiah Bounderby of Coketown represents the utilitarian attitude and, as such, is the villain of the story and clearly the target of Dickens's political argument. Dickens describes Bounderby as a powerful individual, driven by greed and driven by a distorted view of human nature. He is the only wealthy industrialist introduced in Hard Times, although Mr. Sleary could arguably be considered the more virtuous businessman. Dickens clearly describes Bounderby as a greedy, individualistic and selfish capitalist; rather than an insightful and far-sighted craftsman of a new industrial age. Dickens cleverly weaves his political enemy into a pompous and arrogant image reinforced by traditional working class themes that lead the reader to conclude that Bounderby,...at the heart of the paper...born and truly human society should strive to benefit of all classes of its citizens. Works Cited Coolidge, Archibald C., Jr. Charles Dickens as a serial novelist. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press, 1967.Hayek, F.A., ed. Capitalism and historians. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1954. Laughlin, J. Lawrence. The elements of political economy. New York, NY: 1896.Malthus, Thomas. First Essay on Population, 1798. London, England: Macmillan & Company. 1926.Marx, Karl. "Capital." Great books of the Western world. vol. 50. Ed. Robert Hutchins. Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica. 1982.Veblen, Thorstein. Selected Writings of Thorstein Veblen. Ed. Wesley C. Mitchell. New York, NY: Viking Press. 1947.Wilson, John F. British Business History: 1720-1994. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press. 1995.